C
ccochran
Hello, all:
I need some advice from the smart folks at The Cove. In the next couple of weeks, I will present a problem solving workshop to a plant of about 110 people. All 110 people will attend the workshop and I will be the only instructor (yikes!). The students will divide into groups of about 6-7 people and apply a simple problem solving method to the problem of making a cup of coffee with an automatic drip coffee maker. Each group will have their own coffee maker and set of supplies. The problem solving method, as well as the analytical tools, will be quite simple: cause and effect diagram, nominal group technique, Pareto diagram, etc. Here’s where I need help. I need to “gently” sabotage the coffee makers so that the groups have a problem facing them. Here are some of the ideas I came up with:
*** Coffee grounds: Add pepper, tobacco, or some other substance that will cause the coffee to taste bad.
*** Filters: Spray something on them that will cause them to perform poorly or leave a bad taste.
*** Coffee pot: Let a little clear liquid soap dry in the bottom of the pot.
*** Filter basket: Add a dark substance (that will mix in with the dark plastic) that will mix with the coffee and cause a bad taste.
*** Water reservoir: Do the same type of thing I do to the filter basket (see above).
*** Sugar bowl: Spike it with salt.
*** Coffee cups: Let a little clear liquid soap dry in the bottoms.
Can anyone think of other ways I can mess with the equipment and supplies in order to cause a problem that must be solved? The problems probably shouldn’t be overly technical (e.g., disconnect the wiring). I’d be very interested in hearing your ideas.
Talk to you soon,
Craig
[email protected]
I need some advice from the smart folks at The Cove. In the next couple of weeks, I will present a problem solving workshop to a plant of about 110 people. All 110 people will attend the workshop and I will be the only instructor (yikes!). The students will divide into groups of about 6-7 people and apply a simple problem solving method to the problem of making a cup of coffee with an automatic drip coffee maker. Each group will have their own coffee maker and set of supplies. The problem solving method, as well as the analytical tools, will be quite simple: cause and effect diagram, nominal group technique, Pareto diagram, etc. Here’s where I need help. I need to “gently” sabotage the coffee makers so that the groups have a problem facing them. Here are some of the ideas I came up with:
*** Coffee grounds: Add pepper, tobacco, or some other substance that will cause the coffee to taste bad.
*** Filters: Spray something on them that will cause them to perform poorly or leave a bad taste.
*** Coffee pot: Let a little clear liquid soap dry in the bottom of the pot.
*** Filter basket: Add a dark substance (that will mix in with the dark plastic) that will mix with the coffee and cause a bad taste.
*** Water reservoir: Do the same type of thing I do to the filter basket (see above).
*** Sugar bowl: Spike it with salt.
*** Coffee cups: Let a little clear liquid soap dry in the bottoms.
Can anyone think of other ways I can mess with the equipment and supplies in order to cause a problem that must be solved? The problems probably shouldn’t be overly technical (e.g., disconnect the wiring). I’d be very interested in hearing your ideas.
Talk to you soon,
Craig
[email protected]